Envelop-opener



(No Model.)

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ENVELOP OPENER.

No. 601,309. Patnted Mar. 29, 1 898.

I I I 192 1 6 UN TED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. STEVENER, OF TARENTUM, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOP-OPENER I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,309, dated March 29, 1898.

Application filed April 12, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. STEVENER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Tarentum, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Openers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in envelop-openers.

The invention has for its object the construction ofa device for the above-described purpose that will besimple in construction and operation, strong, durable, and compara tively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above objects in view the invention finally consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described in detail. 7

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals designate similar parts, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top View, and Fig. 4: is a backview.

To construct a device in accordance with my invention, I provide a frame consisting of the plates 1 and 2, which are hinged together upon the pin 3. The upper plate 1 is formed in an angular shape, as shown, and

the lower plate has the spring-looped portion 2' formed thereon and terminates in the flanged portion 4, which is parallel with the body portion of the plate, but sets at a lower elevation. Loosely fitted upon the said pin An open- Serial No. 631,758. (No model.)

ing is formed within the lower plate-section and into which is loosely secured the key 6,

having a loop formed upon its lower end and a hook upon its upper end. Anoblong opening 7 is formed within the upper plate, through which the said hook end of the key is passed, after which it is turned round at right angles, as shown, so as to hold the two sections in position and prevent them from separating too far. Secured to the outer free end of the said upper plate-section and by the rivets 8 is the cutter-bar 12, which engages with the edge of the cutter-knife or shear and is capable of being adjusted by the said screws 10 and oblong openings 11. To the inner upper side of the lower plate-section is secured by the rivets 13 the stop-bar 14, having upwardlyturned ends which engage against the inner side of the upper section when the sections are pressed together to operate the shear and is adapted to form a stop to prevent the two sections from coming too closely together. In practice the end of the envelop is inserted over the cutter-bar and beneath the shear-knife. Thence by pressing the two sections together, as shown by dotted lines at Fig. 2, the shear-knife operates and shears the end from the envelop, and when the pres sure is relieved it returns to its former position. Should a longer out be required, the envelop is moved farther forward to the cutting edge and the operation repeated.

Should it be desired to sharpen the shear knife, the locking-key 6 is turned at-right Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An envelop-opener consisting of an upper plate having secured thereto a depending cutter, an opening in said plate for the reception of a key, in combination with a lower plate provided with a looped portion and a cutter-bar, upon said plate, substantially as set forth.

2. An envelop-opener consisting of an upper and a lower plate hinged together at one end, a spiral spring provided with an extension, located at the hinged portion, said upper plate having secured theretoa cutter, an I 5 opening in said plate for the reception of a key, the lower plate being provided with a spring looped portion for the reception of the said cutter, the end of said looped portion terminating in a flanged portion having adjustably attached thereto a cutter-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES XV. STEVENER. Vitnesses:

JOHN GROETZINGER, O. SIMS. 

